Five more laws enacted from January session of Congress

Palikir, POHNPEI(FSM Information Services): March 25, 2005 - Executive actions on the remaining measures from January's Fifth Regular Session of the 13th Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia has resulted in five new laws.

Public Law (PL) no. 13-82 leads the new series of legislations by amendments to a previous law (PL 7-39). It changes the uses of certain funds previously appropriated for certain public projects in the State of Yap.

The next one PL No. 13-83, changes and repeals certain appropriations for public projects under a previous law (PL13-36) for the creation of a fund within the General Fund of the FSM entitled "Public Projects for Chuuk Election District No.5." It also specifies the allotees of the various projects listed within the legislation.

Based on the newly established fund, a sum of $240,000 is appropriated under next law, PL No. 13-84, to fund certain public projects in the Chuuk's Election District no. 5.

Another measure P.L No. 13-85, called for changes to Title 55 (Government Finance and Contracts) of the FSM Code. The new law states that in the process for appeal of special grants conditions as set forth under Section 308, the amendments permits the President to determine whether or not an appeal is in the best interest of the nation.

In the provision regarding the Compact transition, the amendments states that the section does not change or modify the distribution of capital account funds between a State and any of its municipalities as it existed as of September 30, 2003.

The final measure in the January series is Public Law No. 13-86, which was passed without the President's signature. The new law adds two new sections to Chapter 1 of Title 24 (Marine Resources) of the FSM Code to ban "all fishing vessels and fishing vessel owners from fishing in the FSM EEZ in the event a court judgment is entered against the fishing vessel or the fishing vessel owner in excess of $25,000 for violations of the laws of the FSM until such judgment is satisfied, and for other purposes."

Although in agreement with the intents of the measure, the President was however concerned with the possible economic discord of enacting such a legislation and its impact on the operations of the Executive Branch and therefore denied passage of the Act.

The President urged collaborated efforts between the two Branches on policy initiatives.